How to Start a Pressure Cleaning Business
There’s no doubt that pressure washing things can feel very satisfactory. If you love pressure washing enough to make a living, you’re thinking in the right direction. The pressure washing market is expected to grow steadily in the coming years. So entering the market now will make pressure washing even more satisfactory for you by earning you six to seven digits yearly income.
So without further ado, let’s take a detailed look at how to start a pressure cleaning business:
Conduct Market Research
Before you jump into the process of starting a pressure cleaning business, conduct market research to find out its potential in your area. While pressure cleaning services are a growing market, their growth can vary in different towns, cities, and states. Hence, you need to ensure that the business will be as profitable for you as you expect and want it to be.
Create a Business Plan
A business plan is essential to start a successful business. It will allow you to interest investors. For example, if you plan to take out a loan from the bank, you will need to submit a business plan as an essential document. But even if you don’t need investors, creating a business plan is a good idea as it will guide you at various stages to stay focused on its growth.
Business plans usually contain the following information to serve their purpose successfully:
Business Overview – a description of your business
Services List – details of the services you will offer
Pricing Strategy – depiction of the prices you have set for your services
Market Analysis – details of your ideal customers, i.e., customer demographics, age, status, etc.
Competitive Analysis – other pressure cleaning businesses in your area
Marketing Plan – your ideas on reaching and winning your ideal customers
Business Positions – responsibilities of the business divided among positions
Employee Planning – your plans to fill the vacant positions over a timeline
Cash Flow Strategy – details of financial projects, i.e., expenses, salaries, income, for the first year of your business
Add an executive summary of the plan, in the beginning, followed by a table of contents and a cover page as final touches.
Pick and Register a Name
Once your business plan is complete, decide on a name for your pressure cleaning business. Make sure the name is simple to pronounce and easy to remember. Remember, the name of your business is its identity. So it needs to sound what it is about.
You must also ensure that the name is unique and there is no other pressure cleaning business with the same name as yours. You can reach out to the trademark issuing authority to find out if the name you have come up with is free to use or not. If it is, you can get it registered with the authority right away. If not, keep thinking of names until you find a unique one.
Get a Logo
After deciding on the name, it is time for you to get a logo designed. Hire a professional designer for the job. It is an additional cost, but it will significantly help your business stand out from its competitors and grow over the coming years. You can take help from websites like Freelancer or Upwork to find a designer for cheap.
Get a License
It’s time to make things official! Getting a license is essential before setting up or marketing the business. Don’t worry! License for start-ups and small businesses costs under $100. The process is also fairly simple. Here’s how it goes:
Register the Name
It is best to pick a name and register it before you pursue a license. But if you didn’t do it earlier, you must do it now as there’s no more room for delay.
Select a Registered Agent
Your agent will be the person to handle documentation for your business on behalf of the LLC. You will need to name a registered person for this role.
Create the LLC Operating Agreement
The LLC Operating Agreement defines the framework for your business operations. It includes company ownership, voting rights, profit sharing, responsibilities, governance, etc. Depending on your state, you may or may not need to submit it. However, it is beneficial to create it as it can prevent unwarranted claims and requests.
Submit Articles of Registration
Create, gather, and submit all documents necessary to establish your LLC. The list may vary slightly from state to state, so it is best to look for your state’s requirements before submitting.
Depending on the state, you may need to attend some classes on the safe handling and applying chemicals for pressure cleaning services. In that case, you will need to submit proof of taking those classes and other documents.
Get the License
Once you have submitted the required document, you will soon receive the document attesting to the establishment of your LLC. Keep this document somewhere safe before you move on to the further steps.
Gather Funds
The average cost of starting a pressure cleaning business is between $5,000 and $10,000. This cost includes getting a license, registering a name for the business, insurance, equipment, uniforms, safety gear, website, and marketing. The cost also includes that of a second-hand pickup truck you will need for carrying the equipment. However, you can save that cost if you already own a vehicle that you can utilize for the business.
You can apply for a loan at a bank at this stage. The registration and business plan documents will make it easy for you to get the loan. Just make sure you go through the bank’s documents thoroughly to avoid any financial hiccups in the future.
Buy Equipment
Once you have the funds, you can begin buying the essentials for your business. A pressure cleaning business will require more items than you used when cleaning your driveway. Here’s a complete list of items you will need:
Pressure washer
Pressure washer pump
Water hoses (various sizes)
Nozzles
Hose reel
Downstream injector
Extension cords (for electric pressure washer)
Cleaning chemicals
Surface cleaners
Telescoping wand
Water tank (optional)
Do your research before purchasing the equipment to find good deals. You may find a retailer that provides discounted rates to businesses. You can also find the equipment for cheaper during Black Friday sales, Labor Day discounts, etc. Don’t forget the safety gear and uniforms for yourself and your crew.
Get Insurance
It is beneficial to get bond insurance to protect your business against claims before you begin working. Insurance might cost you anything between $700-1500, but it’s a small price to save much greater amounts in the future.
Get a Website
Now that you have everything you need, it’s time to set up shop. Don’t worry; you don’t need a physical store for your business. In today’s digital age, customers search for services online. Therefore, you need an online presence in the form of a website. This presence should also be strong enough to convert anyone searching for pressure cleaning services in your area into your customer.
While you can DIY the process, it is recommended to hire professional services for the best results. Trady.com is your one-stop solution for this entire process. It is a website building service for trades and home services. Their expertise ensures that your website is easy to navigate and allows online bookings. Online bookings make it easy and fast for customers to contact and hire the services.
It is incredibly easy and cheap to get started with Trady.com. Avail of the 14-day free trial to make up your mind.
Market Your Business
Now that your business has an (online) shop, it’s time to market your services to the customers. Get started by setting up your business’s social media profiles and accounts on search engines. You can also make business profiles on search engines and marketing companies like Nextdoor and Yelp. Besides these, you can also advertise your business in the classified section of local newspapers, magazines, and websites.
You can also hire professional marketing services to spread the word about your pressure cleaning business more effectively. You can hire Trady.com to look after your business’s marketing too. It provides end-to-end marketing services for trades and home services with proven results. With Trady.com looking after your business, you can focus on the work more freely.
Get Ready for Work
After all the hard work, and especially after hiring Trady.com, you must start getting customers immediately. All that’s left to do now is to impress your clients with your superior quality services to turn them into regulars and receive 5-star reviews on your website and different marketing accounts.
Keep up your quality services with consistency and hard work. In time, you can refer to your business plan and figure out the best strategies to grow your business. For example, if you started with pressure cleaning services for residential customers, you can also offer your services to industrial and commercial customers as your business grows. Keep expanding your business and earning more money by doing something you enjoy!